My Mom has been telling me for years -- trying to whisper it in my ear when she should just be yelling it in my face -- that time is crucial. It is crucial to your life and those around you. Most people, (those not completely absorbed with fine home furnishings, fancy cars, jewels, et al.) totally realize that time is the most valuable gift in the world. You can donate of your money to charities the world over, it definitely helps, please don't get me wrong. But to those around us: friends, family, co-workers and everyone we meet, there is but one thing we can give that they will truly know we care: time. I could give the dictionary definition here but let's avoid the lameness - can't be wasting my time with dictionaries as my time is important after all - I will instead tell you what I think time really means.
Time to me: it's everything you'll ever hold dear, as you are nearing death you most likely won't think back to that really spiffy motorboat you had, those knives direct from Japan that can cut through steel, you will think back to the times you spent with loved ones and how much those times meant to you. The things we surround ourselves with will only hold true value to the owner in the end.. if you don't believe me, check flea markets, yard sales, ebay, et cetera... but memories -- time-gifted memories will last forever to all involved: happy hunting to those trying to find these at shopping malls or amazon.
I bring all of this up, out of guilt of my own actions but so that I may be able to write it out and fix some of my own misuses of time -- exercise my personal time demons, if you will. So, I've been helping this very, very special lady in my life with a garden lately, we have transplanted flowers, moved things to and fro, even started an herb garden. All of these have recently given rise to what could best be described as one woman's exuberant joyfulness over the whole Wednesday's gardening moments we've been having -- this overflow of excitement is partly due to her extreme love of gardening but it is more importantly geared to her extreme love for me. As I give of my own time to my Granny, it makes her days. She isn't sitting around planning flowers that need to be moved, arranged and otherwise carted all over the yard because she is a gardening Nazi, she does it because I've expressed an interest in not only learning to garden with her but just being in these precious moments with her.
So, as no directive to anyone else but myself, I have got to get out there. Get out of my mind, my thinking that I have something much more valuable to do and just help. Help others and they'll help you help yourself. I've volunteered and know the joys that come with it... I need to make it happen today and every chance I get. Just be in the present and help those I see who are in need, make it happen.
